Posted: June 28, 2018
In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks that shocked our city to the core and forever changed the history of our country, the unimaginable was met with the kind of grit and generosity of spirit that runs deep in New Yorkers. So many acted with bravery in the response, rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts, and developed cancer, respiratory diseases and other severe illness as a result of the toxic, carcinogenic material that coated the city for months.
The Victim Compensation Fund provides payouts of money to people who have developed illness because of work they performed at, or their proximity to, the disaster zone. Please see 4 common questions below, then call our attorneys for more information, in New York at: 212-643-0044, or in Hackensack and Newark at 201-342-5545.
1. What is the Zadroga Act?
The James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act is a law that was enacted in early 2011 when it was signed by President Obama. Its purpose is to provide medical monitoring and compensation to eligible persons who developed health problems because of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City.
First responders, volunteers, clean-up crews, and people living and working in the Lower Manhattan disaster area between 9/11/2001 and 5/30/2002, are all potentially eligible parties, as are others.
2. What is the Victim Compensation Fund?
The Victim Compensation Fund is the portion of the Zadroga Act that grants monetary awards to eligible victims of 9/11-related illnesses. The VCF is separate from the portion of the Zadroga Act that provides lifetime free healthcare to these victims. The latter is known as The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).
3. Am I eligible for VCF compensation?
Firefighters, first responders, volunteers, survivors, residents, students – many people are potentially eligible for monetary awards from the VCF. Here are some of the broad categories according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- You were involved in the initial response, rescue or recovery effort
- You were involved in the cleanup, debris removal or other support efforts
- You were involved in the handling and processing of human remains from the disaster zone
- You were a worker in the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation Tunnel
- You were present in the disaster area and the dust cloud on 9-11-2001
- You were living, working, going to school, at child care or adult day care in the disaster area for at least 4 days between 9-11-2001 and 1-10-2002, or at least 30 days between 9-11-2001 and 7-31-2002
- You worked in cleanup or maintenance in the disaster area during the 4 months between 9-11-2001 and 1-10-2002
- You suffer from one of the covered illnesses
If you feel you do not fall neatly into one of these categories, please call our attorneys before moving on. In the broadest terms, if you suffered physical harm as a result of the terrorist airplane crashes on September 11, 2001, then you may be eligible for compensation. You may also be eligible if you are the personal representative of someone who was killed or died as a result of the attacks on that day.
The eligibility requirements were expanded to include more people in recent years. So even if you were denied before 2015, you may now be eligible under the expanded definitions.
4. Why should I hire an attorney for this process?
At Eisbrouch Marsh, our experienced, compassionate attorneys have handled many VCF claims on behalf of people who have been horrendously sickened by the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks. We advocate aggressively on behalf of our clients and we do not stop fighting until we have obtained the best possible outcomes. Here are some of the reasons you should consider enlisting our help for your VCF claim:
- Ensure each step is completed correctly to prevent delays or denials. Our attorneys know all of the requirements – documentation and otherwise – as well as how the filing process should be completed. This avoids any mistakes that could bog down the process.
- Appeals for denied or undervalued claims. With the help of our attorneys, you can appeal a result you do not agree with.
Additionally, you will not pay us anything upfront or at all unless we successfully obtain a settlement on your behalf. In that situation, our payment is a percentage of the award. We know how expensive it is to treat a serious illness, and you do not need to worry about an additional financial burden if our attorneys file a claim on your behalf.
Call for a Free Case Review
If you think you may have a 9/11 illness claim to make for a Victim Compensation Fund payment, please call the experienced, compassionate attorneys at Eisbrouch Marsh. Our law office can be contacted from New York at: 212-643-0044, or in Hackensack and Newark at 201-342-5545. As someone interested in filing a VCF claim, your consultation is completely free and confidential.
